Tue | Apr 23, 2024

All I want for Christmas: Mom of seven needs home fixed to get back kids

Published:Monday | December 21, 2020 | 12:14 AMCecelia Campbell-Livingston/Gleaner Writer
Pause
Two-year-old Alia Lindsay cries in the arms of her mother, Natasha Jones, inside the three-room shack she shared with her seven children before five were taken into state care. Jones is seeking help to build a proper house so she can get back her children.
Ian Allen/Photographer
Two-year-old Alia Lindsay cries in the arms of her mother, Natasha Jones, inside the three-room shack she shared with her seven children before five were taken into state care. Jones is seeking help to build a proper house so she can get back her children.
Exposed roofing that caused Natasha Jones and her seven kids to get wet whenever it rained.
Ian Allen/Photographer
Exposed roofing that caused Natasha Jones and her seven kids to get wet whenever it rained.
The shed under which the Jones family used a toilet.
Ian Allen/Photographer
The shed under which the Jones family used a toilet.
1
2
3

For Portmore mother of seven Natasha Jones, there is only one thing that would make her happy this Christmas: to have all her children under her roof.

Jones is hoping that by some miracle the roof, literally, will become a reality as five of her children were taken into state care because of the condition of the leaky, dilapidated shack in which they lived.

A teenage son has also been allowed to stay with other family.

Jones currently cares for her two-year-old daughter at home.

Heather White Davis of Reshuffle Outreach Ministry said that “something moved inside of her” when she first learnt of Jones’ heart-tugging story. She was prompted to make an appeal on Facebook seeking a partnership to build a two-bedroom board house for the family.

“My biggest plight is that I want a home so that the kids can come back home,” a forlorn Jones told The Gleaner.

“They (state care) said I should use all the opportunity I can get in order to get somewhere for me to get back the kids.”

Jones, who is hopeful that Davis’ campaign will be a success, said that everyone would get wet whenever it rained.

The 28-year-old mother, who will be heading back to court on January 4, 2021 to declare whether her conditions have changed, said no Christmas gift would be more fitting than to have her kids all back in a decent home.

“I just need to get them back because they said if I don’t have somewhere for them to stay proper, I won’t get them back until they are 18.

“I really need back my kids,” Jones said.

Davis, who is lobbying for help for Jones, said that she identifies with the pain of missing one’s mother, and that is why she is pushing so hard to have the family reunited.

The good Samaritan, who grew up with her grandmother, said that while she got the necessities of life – “food, toys, and stuff” – she missed out on a mother’s loving care and playing with her siblings.

“Now I understand what being kept away from your mother feels like, and that is why I am so passionate and determined to help this family,” Davis said.

Persons wanting to assist Natasha Jones may contact Heather Davis White at 876-325-7528.

editorial@gleanerjm.com